10 February 2008
On the Journey of Saving Hunter - Part 3
Tomorrow I continue on the Journey of Saving Hunter by making my way to Washington, D.C. to locate more information on Lt. Hunter and MSgt. Charlie Jones, the man who recovered Hunter’s body in a mountain village in northern Laos. This trip will be very prominent in the regards of visiting the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, seeing the name of Lt. Hunter etched next to his brothers in arms. This will be my second time to the Wall, but the first time with true purpose.
As part of project Saving Hunter, each of Douglas County’s 11 Vietnam War casualties will have their etchings traditionally copied with graphite and be preserved for future use, hopefully to be included in a fitting memorial within the anticipated new community center at Hunter Memorial Park, explaining the history of the park and Lt. Hunter.
Also on the agenda is to visit the National Archives at College Park and the Library of Congress to seek research material, photographs and motion pictures of Air Force operations during the Vietnam War in 1965/66. Due to the sensitivity and classified nature of some of the material around C.I.A. operations and the rescue of Lt. Hunter’s body via the Air Commandos, very little is expected to be found.
The journey thus far has been an eye-opening experience that not many civilians can find in everyday life. I am grateful for this opportunity and when the project is complete, I wish that everyone can follow the Journey of Saving Hunter as I have.
Tags: charlie jones, journey of saving hunter, Lt Hunter, Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, Washington DC
